The addition of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp to Deion Sanders’ coaching team at the University of Colorado is facing severe criticism.
In a recent article, Buff Zone’s Pat Rooney scrutinized the hiring of Sapp due to his history of legal issues, including multiple instances of violence against women.
Rooney wrote, "The 'NFL-izing' of the CU football program under head coach Deion Sanders continued with the addition of Sapp, likely the most famous graduate assistant to ever grace the sideline of a major college football program. He arrives with a gold jacket as a Pro Football Hall of Famer, along with a list of relatively recent legal transgressions dominated by assaults against women."
Warren Sapp Has Faced Controversy Since College Years
Sapp has been surrounded by controversy since his collegiate days at the University of Miami.
An investigative report by the NFL distributed to teams the night before the 1995 NFL draft revealed Sapp's failure of seven drug tests during his time at Miami, including one for cocaine. His draft position dropped from a potential top-five pick to the Buccaneers at No. 12 overall — one of two Hall of Famers selected in the first round that year alongside linebacker Derrick Brooks at No. 28.
Sapp played in the NFL from 1995 to 2008 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Since retiring, Sapp's personal life has been troubled. He was arrested on charges of domestic assault in 2010, although those charges were later dropped.
In Feb. 2015, Sapp was arrested for assault and solicitation of a prostitute in Arizona the morning after the Super Bowl. He was fired from the NFL Network following the arrest and later pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors in that case to avoid jail time. In April 2015, Sapp was arrested after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in Las Vegas. Sapp also
reached a plea deal in that case to avoid jail time. Sapp was also one of several former NFL players named in a
2017 lawsuit against the NFL Network filed by a former wardrobe stylist alleging a long list of sexual harassment claims. Deion Sanders Adds Sapp to Developing Program
Colorado went from 1-11 in 2022 to 4-8 in 2023 in Sanders’
first season as head coach , including a 3-0 start to the season.Sapp spent time around the team in 2023 before Sanders recruited him as a graduate assistant in March 2024.
According to USA Today , Sapp will be receiving $150,000 annually in his new role.approximately $58 million
Sapp made playing in the NFL but filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after the IRS said he owed approximately $942,000 in back taxes and he was $876,000 behind on alimony and child support payments. PNC Bank was awarded a judgement of almost $1 million against Sapp in 2010. “These points do not make up the background of someone who has made a regrettable, one-time, youthful mistake,” Rooney wrote. “These are habitual actions from a retired player who should’ve known better. And now he’s part of Buff Nation. Be proud.”
Buff Zone’s Pat Rooney delivered some harsh criticism of the University of Colorado’s Deion Sanders hiring Warren Sapp to join his staff.
